For nearly 12 hours, a Radnor family found itself at the center of the search for the Boston Marathon bombers after online chatter incorrectly indicated their missing loved one was one of the suspects being sought by the FBI.

Posted first on the Internet chat site Reddit late Thursday, the erroneous, unconfirmed information linked Sunil Tripathi, a 22-year-old Brown University student and a 2008 Radnor High School graduate, missing since March, to the horrific bombings.

For hours Tripathi's name was bandied about online as a possible suspect.

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Finally, after the identities of the suspects were made known, Tripathi's family also went online to talk about the pain their family has endured since their beloved son went missing more than a month ago, and which now cut even deeper with the false information posted in the cyber world.

"A tremendous and painful amount of attention has been cast on our beloved Sunil Tripathi in the past twelve hours.

"We have known unequivocally all along that neither individual suspected as responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings was Sunil.

"We are grateful to all of you who have followed us on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit -- supporting us over the recent hours.

"Now more than ever our greatest strength comes from your enduring support. We thank all of you who have reached out to our family and ask that you continue to raise awareness and to help us find our gentle, loving, and thoughtful Sunil."

The Internet exploded with possible IDs on the suspected bombers shortly after the FBI released photos of the two men around 5 p.m. Thursday. Once the photos hit the web, the hunt was on for suspects.

On Thursday evening, the name Sunil Tripathi was reportedly heard by a listener to police scanner traffic from Boston police. From there a story was posted to the Internet site Reddit with speculation tying the missing Brown University student and Radnor resident to the Boston bombing probe.

A storm of Internet activity followed, with Tripathi being alleged as the focus of the marathon suspect chase.

Hours later, news reports confirmed the identities of the two suspects whose photos were released by the FBI late Thursday afternoon.

Tripathi was not one of the suspects. He is one of several people who have been incorrectly identified as a suspect and bore the wrath of the public.

As the false rumors about one of their alumni spread like wildfire, Radnor School District Officials met early Friday and arranged an assembly for students to discuss the dangers of rumors and innuendo in today's almost instantaneous media landscape.

"They talked about how you should check and double check the facts," said District Spokesman Michael Petitti.

Petitti noted that the Tripathi suffered tremendously because of the false reporting.

"Their grief was compounded," he said. "In addition to the fact they are still searching for him."

"It's unfortunate that people rush to judgment and that rumors run rampant," said Radnor Police Superintendent William Colarulo. "The media also has to hold some accountability. They're so worried about being first in reporting things they don't let the facts get in the way of a good story."

Colarulo said he began receiving phone calls as early as 4 a.m. Friday, from both local and national media saying Tripathi had been identified as the Boston Marathon terrorist.

"I had to put a police detail around the family's residence because from the media were knocking on their door," he added.

Tripathi was last heard from on March 15. That day, he had tea with a friend, spoke on the phone with his grandmother and had a lengthy text message conversation with his aunt in Boston, which was not unusual, his sister Sangeeta Tripathi said. Around midnight, he traded text messages with his mother.

"All of those people felt nothing remarkably different was happening," said his sister.

On Saturday afternoon, she texted him and didn't hear back.

Then, at 1:33 a.m. March 16, surveillance video captured him as he left his apartment in Providence, Rhode Island. He left behind his wallet, cellphone and a note that was not addressed to anyone in particular. Family members declined to discuss the contents of the note.

Earlier this week, a search party walked along the riverbanks at low tide in Providence searching for the missing undergraduate student. The FBI is also assisting in the search for Tripathi and has expanded its search to Boston, Connecticut, New York and Philadelphia.

"We hope that we can, altogether, find him and that he's safe," said his sister.

Tripathi is originally from the Bryn Mawr section of Radnor. He was living in an apartment in Providence with classmates, his sister said, and had been volunteering at local libraries and at a chess club.

Sangeeta Tripathi said her brother had been acting normally in the days and weeks leading up to March 15, although he was going through a "tough time."

Other than his clothing, the only items he appears to have taken with him are a key to his apartment, an old, faded Brown ID and his glasses, Sangeeta Tripathi said.

Tripathi is about 6 feet tall, 130 pounds and has dark hair. If you have information as to his whereabouts, you are asked to contact Providence Police at 401-641-8691.

The Associated Press and Pete Bannan from the Main Line TImes contributed to this story.